Balen

For other uses, see Balen (disambiguation).

Balen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbaːlə(n)] ^ⓘ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. In 2021, Balen had a population of 22,853. Total area is 72.88 km².^[2]

Balen
Municipality
Houses in Balen
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Balen
Balen Location in Belgium Location of Balen in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°10′N 05°09′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Turnhout
Government
• Mayor	Johan Leysen (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V, Vooruit
Area
• Total	72.99 km2 (28.18 sq mi)
Population  (2020-01-01)[1]
• Total	22,813
• Density	310/km2 (810/sq mi)
Postal codes	2490, 2491
NIS code	13003
Area codes	014, 011
Website	www.balen.be

Famous Inhabitant

• Tom Boonen, World Cycling Champion in 2005.
• Jef Geys, internationally known artist, taught Positive Aesthetics at a children's school in Balen between 1960 and 1989.

Gallery

• 
  Balen, church
• 
  Library
• 
  Balen railway station
• 
  Water mill Hoolstmolen

Climate

Climate data for Balen (1991−2020 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.4 (43.5)	7.4 (45.3)	11.3 (52.3)	15.8 (60.4)	19.5 (67.1)	22.3 (72.1)	24.3 (75.7)	24.0 (75.2)	20.4 (68.7)	15.5 (59.9)	10.3 (50.5)	6.8 (44.2)	15.3 (59.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)	3.4 (38.1)	3.9 (39.0)	6.7 (44.1)	10.0 (50.0)	13.8 (56.8)	16.7 (62.1)	18.8 (65.8)	18.3 (64.9)	15.0 (59.0)	11.1 (52.0)	6.9 (44.4)	4.0 (39.2)	10.7 (51.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	0.5 (32.9)	0.3 (32.5)	2.0 (35.6)	4.1 (39.4)	8.2 (46.8)	11.2 (52.2)	13.3 (55.9)	12.5 (54.5)	9.6 (49.3)	6.7 (44.1)	3.5 (38.3)	1.2 (34.2)	6.1 (43.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	70.1 (2.76)	64.6 (2.54)	57.8 (2.28)	43.4 (1.71)	59.4 (2.34)	75.1 (2.96)	78.5 (3.09)	78.8 (3.10)	62.9 (2.48)	65.4 (2.57)	74.1 (2.92)	88.5 (3.48)	818.6 (32.23)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	12.9	11.8	11.2	8.7	9.7	10.2	10.6	10.9	9.8	11.0	12.9	14.2	134.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours	60	75	131	184	213	213	219	206	159	115	66	50	1,691
Source: Royal Meteorological Institute[3]